Dreams, Hopes & Happiness

Hello! 😊

Paper To Petal

A short 3:25min video for ideas and inspiration. At :40 seconds, ManuK slows down and shows many how-to shapes she uses for her creations. She has individual videos on her channel for how to quill all these flowers.

Happy crafting or doing what you love. Have a very warm & safe end of the year. 

May the New Year bring you and yours new dreams, hopes and happiness. 

xo 🎉

Molly 

 

Quilled Eyeballs from Archives

This is an oldie for my new followers. I ran across these the other day and I am thinking about making them larger (really big) to send to the grandkids next week :-) I will definitely post a photo if I get this done. (Didn't get it done, sigh)

The original 2009 post with instructions for eyeballs and the tiny box is HERE .

Thanks for stopping by!
~Molly

Easy Quilled Hat

One day while experimenting, I realized that I could make large quilled shapes if I used wider paper and crimping it before rolling. It was easier to work with and control the tension.

This is a photo of the first crimped quilling project I submitted that was published in a book (2003). They wanted an easy, framed quilled project that would take less than one hour to make.

You only need two loose coils. One shaped-half circle and a shaped-marquise. The instructions say I used a 1/4" wide by 68 inch  (.635 cm x 160 cm) crimped strip to make each shape. I made two circle templates with the same paper that I dropped the coils in to release. One 1.75" (4.45 cm) diameter for the top and 2.5" (6.35 cm) diameter for the brim.

I have also used this design to make red and purple hat motifs for cards, tags, scrapbooking (The Red Hat Society) and a wedding hat. The possibilities to embellish the hat (the fun part) are endless!

Thanks for looking.

Have a great day!

-Molly

I Spy Something Orange ...

and square!

This is an oldie but one of my favorite decorations :)

I love INCHIE ART, it is so easy! And the challenge of creating concept art with inch squares of paper is inspiring. Of course, the embellishing is the fun part!

The background is a Rob & Bob coaster by Provo Craft. And the eyeball? It is quilled; yes I like to make odd but practical pieces of quilling. I used black Distress Ink on the 1-inch paper square edges to make them look dimensional.

Have a wonderful end-of-October week!

-Molly

Mini Maze Book Album ~ Happy Autumn

From the archives.

This is my favorite time of year!

I made this little maze book a while back for a gift. I designed the covers using graphics from one of my favorite artists, Carolee Jones. At the time, I was starting to make paper beads so I added a matching removable paper bead bookmark.

They are so much fun to make, inexpensive and the ways to embellish and decorate are endless.

I watched this video to learn how to fold-cut-fold the twelve 3" x 3" maze pages from only one piece of scrapbook paper. Tricia Morris from Club Scrap makes the difficult-looking folds and cutting very easy.

Enjoy the change of season!

Have a great weekend :)
-Molly

Wordless Wednesday

Little Bit Whimsical

This is a paper bead jewelry set I made for niece's oldest daughter (8). I thought it resembled Mary Englebriet's brand a little bit. I bought a journal at Michaels to go along with it and suggested she write down her thoughts, decisions, feelings, both good and bad, every so often. Then go back a few days later and read them to see their effect and importance ... and learn from it. I would have loved to learn how to journal at an early age :o)

I used a sheet from a Me and My Big Ideas paper pad.

-Molly

New Year Traditions - 2011

In our family, Eating Black Eyed Peas on New Year's Day is a definite tradition.

In the early 1980s, the original Black Eyed Pea Restaurant on Camp Bowie in Fort Worth, Texas, served a small sample portion in tiny bowls all day long on New Year's Day. This is when I discovered it only takes a few bites to fulfill the tradition, especially if black eyed peas is not a favorite dish. In that case you may like to try one of these lucky foods.

I made these 4-ounce sample jars to give the office staff where we live.

I made these are for my mother's lifelong hairdresser to give to customers today.

I'm going to make one more batch of a dozen for neighbors. I made the jar labels by printing on the winter theme scrapbook paper, using a corner punch and I ran them through a Xyron (or use double-stick tape). I printed the top text using an Avery circle label template and cut them out with a MS circle cutter (or use the lid, trace and cut with scissors). I already had the paper and ribbon. The beans and jars (bought jars at the grocery store too) for the two dozen samples cost me less than 75¢ each. A great gift and they take so little time to make.

Google will get you a ton of information, worldwide, but following are a few links related to New Year's Day.

New Year's ideas - Martha Stewart
New Year Quotes
the Rose Parade
Rose Bowl Game
Polar Bear Club annual swim - burrrrrrrr!
Old Lang Syne

Be safe and .....
Happy New Year, friend!
~Molly

Shameless Self-Promotion

I am so dang excited about my holiday listings for Cyber Monday in my Etsy Shop that I don't have enough time to talk about it. So here is a big shout-out: Please visit and look on Monday. Maybe this will answer that reoccurring question I get from family and friends .. "Now what exactly do you do?".

And I will be there until the last week for you last minute shoppers! :O)

My Etsy Store and My Other Store

Have a great week!

Quilling Fill-in Technique

This is such a simple, quick technique that can be applied to any printed motif. On the left is my trio of dresses project from my book. I was commissioned by an international craft magazine to teach various quilling techniques and this is one of them. The issue was published in 2007 and the pictures I have left from the projects aren't the best, but they give you an idea of how to get started.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

All the printed motifs I used are free clip art that I altered slightly. I started with a simple handbag. I drew a diagonal line and filled in one side with black then printed on a white card. The blank area is filled in with 1/16" (0.158 cm) wide "S" scrolls and loose coils/tendrils. The lengths varied and ranged from 1/4" to 3/4" (0.635 to 1.9 cm).

 Using tweezers, I first tap the bottom edge of the shape on a thin layer of glue on wax paper and immediately apply to the card. The editor wanted quilling to be the main focus so I did very little embellishing. I inserted two eyelets and added a string of pearls for the handle. I let the handle dangle loose on one of the cards, but the purse was printed too low so they didn't use that one. 

I also filled in a dress and shoe. I added pink to the heel and removed the printed bow on the shoe. I added a black satin ribbon bow on the finished card for dimension.

If you try this technique or have used it before, please let me know and I'll post your project!  Enjoy!
~Molly

Halloween Favor Boxes

I changed the size of my tall treat boxes for Halloween. Three candies in mini wrappers will fit into this box size perfectly. I used satin and wire ribbons, embroidery thread, puffed inchies, a fabric pumpkin sticker and foam spider stickers to decorate. You can fill these with any candy treat, small toys ... even money!

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

Here is the template I made showing the size and score measurements. The blue lines on the template are cut lines. The red dots indicate the pieces of the template that you will cut off and discard. I used a corner rounder punch for the top flap piece and I also cut the side flaps at the top of the box in half (as shown on the open orange box). 

This is what your box should look like before assembly.

First, the 3/4-inch flap on the side is adhered to the opposite side. I use a tape runner. I find it is easier to line up the flap to the side. Next, the bottom flaps are tucked in and the last one glued down. BAM! You have a box to embellish and fill with treats. Let me know if you have any questions.

Enjoy, and have a safe Halloween!

-Molly

BIG Quilled Flowers

I quilled these BIG flowers just as I would normal size pieces. Using the same shapes, same techniques- just a bit more glue than usual :o) I made them as table decorations for a quilling conference, many years ago. They are made using the traditional looping technique and are about one foot in diameter.

The tulip was an experiment and didn't work out very well.

 

I found a stack construction paper at Sam's Club for under $10.00, so these flowers are very inexpensive to make. I used one inch wide, 12-inch long strips and glued various colors end to end to make the individual petals.
 

I crimped ALL the strips before looping or rolling. The crimping technique (as explained in my book) seems to make the pieces easier to work with, plus a bit more sturdy.

Thanks for looking!

~Molly

Way too cute!

Becky Meverden is a Jill of all Trades but she is most talented with polymer clay, in my humble opinion. She was a regular on HGTV's Carol Duvall show for ten seasons and has written a ton of books showing step-by-step instructions on how to make her fabulous characters.

She lived in South Korea recently and has a book showing the elegant Korean knotting technique called Maedeup. See the technique and book link on her blog. It is an amazing craft and she has designed gorgeous jewelry using the technique.

I was lucky enough to have an exhibit booth next to her at a CHA show. When time permitted, we were able to visit during the day. So I know firsthand that she is a genius in her creative thoughts with everything she designs. Becky is also skilled in precious metal clay, glass beadmaking, quilting and other crafts.

I think she brings her polymer clay characters to life when she creates them. See all the other cute Halloween ideas on her blog HERE.

How cute are those?

-Molly

Quilled Fall Leaves

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.  ~ Stanley Horowitz

Here are various shapes and colors of quilled fall leaves, along with a list of project ideas. Making just one colorful quilled leaf, and placing it on a little note card or tag, will do the trick for an occasion.

And here are the basic instructions for the different shapes. And a few samples:

Bag or Bottle Label and Tag

Tote Bag Tag

Instructions for the tote bag can be found HERE.

~Molly

White on Black Quilled Bookmark

This is my bookmark for Challenge 1 at Take a Quill Pill. I used 1/4" (0.6 cm) wide strips and the tightrolls are 2" (5.1 cm). Using mainly tightrolls is the rule. This was fun; thanks Priyadarshini Deshpande for hosting the challenge.

click to enlarge



Cheers from Texas!

-Molly

Wordless Wednesday

Thank You Card Backwards

I used the front of a matching card to punch a retro flower for the back of the card that I made as the front. I used a 2" Whale of a Punch, burnished the backside to make a puffy flower and brushed on one coat of Beacon's Plastic Laminate. I added a tiny metal brad through the label before adhering it to the card. Don't like seeing those brad tails on the inside of a card.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Making puffy paper flowers. (Go to the middle of the page.)

Thanks for looking!

-Molly

Easy Peasy Purse

These little girl purses were so easy to embellish. I ironed on heart appliques and sewed on bright buttons, using white seed beads. I bought the blank denim purse at Walmart for $2 something. It has a heavy zipper across the top with a nicely made white cotton pouch. Easiness!

click photos to enlarge

Thanks for looking!

-Molly

Wordless Wednesday

Getting your Crafty Projects Published

Oddly, I've had two inquiries recently about how I got my work published in magazines and books. With little time to respond, I forwarded this blog post from over a year ago. I am reposting for those who may also be interested.  Part two of my interview with Pat contains the basic information and my suggestions. There is also gobs of similar information online if you take a bit of time to research.

Quilling with Whimsiquills

Happy Weekend!